Static three-quark SU(3) and four-quark SU(4) potentials

We present results on the static three- and four-quark potentials in SU(3) and SU(4), respectively, within quenched lattice QCD. We use an analytic multihit procedure for the time links and a variational approach to determine the ground state. The three- and four-quark potentials extracted are consistent with a sum of two-body potentials, possibly with a weak many-body component at larger distances. For quark separations up to $\sim 1.2\hspace{0.5em}\mathrm{fm}$ where the results are most accurate, we find support for the $\Delta$ Ansatz for the baryonic area law.